Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, more than 675,000 public comments were submitted to the Department of the Interior in opposition to Secretary Zinke’s plan to hold a lease sale for drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The overwhelming majority of Americans oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge, as do outdoor businesses, athletes, guides and outdoor recreation professionals, and some of the world’s most significant investors.
In an attempt to limit public input, Interior implemented an arcane process for speaking at public hearings and refused to extend the public comment period. Nevertheless, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of people who submitted comments opposing the administration’s destructive plan, hundreds turned out at hearings in Alaska and Washington, DC to call for the protection of the Arctic Refuge from fossil fuel drilling or exploration.
Alli Harvey, Alaska representative for the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign, released the following statement:
“Despite Interior’s efforts to shut the public out of this process, the people have sent a clear message to Ryan Zinke that they will not stand for the destruction of the Arctic Refuge. It’s time to choose human rights and the preservation of wild places over greed and destruction. We will continue to fight to protect the coastal plain.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.